Kewanee School Board OKs new contract with teachers

Tuesday

Aug 19, 2014 at 8:00 AM

Mike Berry

A new three-year contract between the Kewanee School District and the Kewanee Education Association that includes a “soft freeze” on wages for the first two years was approved Monday by the Kewanee School Board.The KEA, which represents the district’s teachers, had already approved the contract.Supt. Dr. Chris Sullens said the “soft freeze” will limit teachers to the 2.3 percent “step” increase that’s included in the teacher salary schedule.In the third year of the contract, the teachers would receive the 2.3 percent step increase plus one-half percent.The contract also includes increases in the extra pay for coaches.Another provision of the contract is a requirement that KEA members pay $274 a year toward their health insurance premiums. There are also increases in deductibles and copays for union members.After approving the KEA contract, the board approved pay raises for non-union and non-certified staff that are equivalent to the increases for KEA members.The board also increased the pay for substitute teachers about 3 percent, to $99.90 per day.